Stop valve device for wash basin

ABSTRACT

A wash basin includes a drain opening formed in a basin member for fitting a housing, a carrier having a peripheral wall member secured in the housing and a casing spaced from the peripheral wall member and coupled to the peripheral wall member with one or more arms for forming a passage between the peripheral wall member and the casing, and for allowing the water to flow out through the passage between the peripheral wall member and the casing, and for preventing the water from flowing into the casing, and for preventing the follower and the sliding member and the spring member received in the casing from being rusted or damaged or interfered by the water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drain or stop valve device, and more particularly to a stop valve device for attaching to a drain opening of a wash basin and including an improved structure for allowing the water to swiftly flow out through the stop valve device and for preventing the stop valve device from being blocked by the dirt or contaminant.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical wash basins comprise a solid retaining member engaged into a drain opening of the wash basin, and a cover attached onto the solid retaining member and having tapered slots formed in the cover for filtering the water and for preventing the dirt or contaminant from flowing out of the drain opening of the wash basin.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,191,686 to Shenk discloses one of the typical drains for attaching to a drain opening of a wash basin and including a cup-shaped solid retaining member engaged into the drain opening of the wash basin, and a cover attached onto the solid retaining member for covering the solid retaining member.

However, no stop valve devices have been provided for stopping or blocking the solid retaining member and the drain opening of the wash basin such that the solid retaining member may not be used for retaining the water in the wash basin.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,288,767 to Young discloses another typical drain valve arrangement for attaching to a drain opening of a wash basin and including a valve member actuatable or operatable with an arm for actuating the valve member to selectively open or stop or block the drain opening of the wash basin.

However, a complicated coupling device is required to be provided and coupled between the arm and the valve member for allowing the valve member to be actuated or operated by the arm to stop or block the drain opening of the wash basin.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,819 to Wang discloses a further typical touch pop-up stopper for attaching to a drain opening of a wash basin and including a valve member or cap actuatable or operatable with a pop-up device.

However, a casing includes a filter screen formed in the upper portion, and the filter screen may be easily and quickly stopped or blocked by the dirt or contaminant such that the touch pop-up stopper may be easily and quickly become failed. In addition, the lift body and the turning body and the spring member are arranged in the water flowing passage such that the lift body and the turning body and the spring member may also be easily and quickly stopped or blocked by the dirt or contaminant, and the spring member may be easily and quickly rusted and damaged by the water and the dirt or contaminant.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional stop valve devices for the wash basins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a stop valve device for attaching to a drain opening of a wash basin and including an improved structure for allowing the water to swiftly flow out through the stop valve device and for preventing the stop valve device from being stopped or blocked by the dirt or contaminant.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a wash basin comprising a basin member for receiving a water, and including a drain opening for allowing the water to flow out of the basin member, and a housing fitted into the drain opening of the basin member and having a chamber formed through the housing, a carrier including a peripheral wall member secured in the housing, and including a casing disposed in the peripheral wall member and spaced from the peripheral wall member and coupled to the peripheral wall member with at least one arm for forming a passage between the peripheral wall member and the casing, and for allowing the water to flow out through the passage between the peripheral wall member and the casing, and for preventing the water from flowing into the casing, the casing including a bore formed therein, and the carrier including at least one rib extended in the bore of the casing, and including a cap attached to bottom of the casing, a sliding member slidably received and engaged within the bore of the casing, and including two projections spaced from each other for forming a channel between the projections and for slidably receiving and engaging with the rib and for guiding the sliding member to slide and to move up and down along the casing and for preventing the sliding member from rotating relative to the casing, a valve member including a shank extended downwardly therefrom for engaging with the sliding member and for attaching and securing the valve member to the sliding member and for allowing the valve member and the sliding member to be moved in concert with each other, the valve member being engageable into the chamber of the housing for selectively opening or blocking the chamber of the housing and the drain opening of the basin member, and including a sealing ring attached to an outer peripheral portion for engaging with the housing and for making a water tight seal between the housing and the valve member and for sealingly blocking the chamber of the housing, a follower slidably and rotatably received in the bore of the casing and including two protrusions extended radially and outwardly and spaced from each other for forming a slot between the protrusions and for slidably receiving and engaging with the rib and for guiding the follower to slide and to move up and down along the casing and for allowing the follower to be rotated relative to the casing when the rib is disengaged from the slot and the protrusions of the follower, the follower including two teeth extended from each protrusion for forming a depression between the teeth and for engaging with the rib and for determining a relative position between the sliding member and the follower, and a spring member disposed in the casing and engaged with the follower for forcing and biasing the follower toward the sliding member and for forcing the projections of the sliding member to engage with the teeth and the depression of the follower, and for forcing the follower to rotate relative to the sliding member when the slot and the protrusions of the follower are disengaged from the rib of the casing, and the follower and the sliding member are forced toward an open end of the casing and the housing by the spring member when the slot of the follower is aligned with the rib of the casing and when the rib of the casing is slidably engaged with the slot of the follower for allowing the valve member to be forced to move out of the housing and to open the chamber of the housing for allowing the water to flow into the housing and to flow out through the passage between the peripheral wall member and the casing, and the valve member is forced to block the chamber of the housing when the slot of the follower is disengaged from the rib of the casing and when the rib of the casing is engaged with the depression of the follower.

The casing includes at least one latch extended outwardly therefrom, and the cap includes at least one latch opening formed therein for engaging with the latch and for securing the cap to the casing.

The cap includes at least one ear extended therefrom, and the latch opening is formed in the ear for receiving and engaging with the latch.

The sliding member includes an inner thread formed in an upper portion thereof, and the shank is a threaded shank for threading and engaging with the inner thread of the sliding member and for attaching the valve member to the sliding member.

The housing includes an inner thread formed therein, and the carrier includes an outer thread formed in an outer peripheral portion of the peripheral wall member for engaging with the inner thread of the housing and for attaching the carrier to the housing.

The casing includes an inner peripheral shoulder formed therein for engaging with the projections of the sliding member and for limiting the sliding member to move relative to the casing. The follower is slidably and rotatably received and engaged within the sliding member.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a wash basin including a stop valve device in accordance with the present invention attached therein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stop valve device;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the stop valve device;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the wash basin and the stop valve device; and

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are enlarged partial cross sectional views similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the operation of the stop valve device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a wash basin 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a basin member 10 for receiving or containing the water, and including a drain opening 11 formed or provided in the bottom portion thereof for allowing the water to flow out of the basin member 10, and a stop valve device 2 for attaching to the drain opening 11 of the wash basin member 10 and for selectively opening or stopping or blocking the drain opening 11 of the wash basin member 10. The above-described structure is typical and will not be described in further details. The wash basin 1 in accordance with the present invention is to provide the stop valve device 2 arranged to prevent the stop valve device 2 from being easily and quickly stopped or blocked by the dirt or contaminant.

The stop valve device 2 includes a housing 20, such as a cylindrical housing 20 for fitting or engaging into the drain opening 11 of the wash basin member 10, the housing 20 includes a peripheral flange 21 extended radially and outwardly from the upper portion thereof for engaging with the wash basin member 10 and for anchoring or positioning the housing 20 to the wash basin member 10 and for preventing the housing 20 from being completely engaged into and through the drain opening 11 of the wash basin member 10, and a gasket or sealing ring 22 may be provided and engaged between the wash basin member 10 and the peripheral flange 21 of the housing 20 for making a water tight seal between the wash basin member 10 and the peripheral flange 21 of the housing 20.

The housing 20 includes a lower portion engaged into a drain pipe 12 (FIGS. 1 and 4-9) and includes an outer thread 23 formed in the outer peripheral portion thereof for engaging with a lock member or lock nut 24 and for fitting or securing the housing 20 to the wash basin member 10, and includes a chamber 25 formed therein or formed through the housing 20. The above-described structure is also typical and will not be described in further details. The housing 20 includes an inner thread 26 formed therein for attaching or fitting or engaging with a carrier 30 which includes an annular or peripheral wall member 31 having an outer thread 32 formed in the outer peripheral portion thereof for engaging with the inner thread 26 of the housing 20 and for attaching or fitting or securing the carrier 30 to the housing 20.

The carrier 30 includes a casing 33 disposed in the peripheral wall member 31 and having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the peripheral wall member 31 such that the casing 33 is spaced from the peripheral wall member 31 and coupled or secured to the peripheral wall member 31 with one or more arms 34 for forming one or more passages 35 between the peripheral wall member 31 and the casing 33, and arranged for allowing the water to flow out through the passages 35 between the peripheral wall member 31 and the casing 33, and for preventing the water from flowing into or through the casing 33. The casing 33 includes a bore 36 formed therein, and includes one or more ribs 37 (FIG. 3) longitudinally formed or extended in the inner peripheral portion thereof and preferably equally spaced from each other.

The casing 33 includes one or more latches 38 extended outwardly from the lower portion thereof, and includes an inner peripheral shoulder 39 formed therein (FIGS. 5-9). An end cap 40 includes one or more latch openings 41 formed therein for engaging with the latches 38 and for attaching or fitting or securing the end cap 40 to the casing 33. For example, the end cap 40 includes one or more ears 42 extended therefrom, and the latch openings 41 is formed in the ears 42 respectively for receiving or engaging with the latches 38 respectively. A spring member 43 may be disposed in the bore 36 of the casing 33 and engaged with the end cap 40 for allowing the spring member 43 to be retained within the bore 36 of the casing 33.

A sliding member 50 is slidably received or engaged within the bore 36 of the casing 33, and includes one or more projections 51 extended radially and outwardly from the lower portion thereof and spaced from each other for forming one or more gaps or channels 52 between the projections 51 for slidably receiving or engaging with the ribs 37 and for guiding the sliding member 50 to slide or to move up and down along the casing 33 and for preventing the sliding member 50 from rotating relative to the casing 33. The projections 51 may be engaged with the inner peripheral shoulder 39 of the casing 33 for limiting the sliding member 50 to slide or to move relative to the casing 33. The sliding member 50 includes one or more inclined surfaces 53 formed in the lower portion of each of the projections 51, and includes a screw hole or an inner thread 54 formed in the upper portion thereof for threading or engaging with or securing a valve member 55.

For example, the valve member 55 includes a threaded shank 56 extended downwardly therefrom for threading or engaging with the inner thread 54 of the sliding member 50 and for attaching or fitting or securing the valve member 55 to the sliding member 50 and for allowing the valve member 55 and the sliding member 50 to be moved in concert with each other. The valve member 55 is engageable into the chamber 25 of the housing 20 for selectively opening (FIG. 4) or stopping or blocking the chamber 25 of the housing 20 and thus the drain opening 11 of the wash basin member 10, and includes a peripheral recess 57 formed in the outer peripheral portion thereof for engaging with a sealing ring 58 which is engageable with the inner peripheral portion of the housing 20 (FIGS. 5-9) for making a water tight seal between the housing 20 and the valve member 55 and for sealingly stopping or blocking the chamber 25 of the housing 20.

The spring member 43 may be used for selectively forcing or biasing the valve member 55 out of the housing 20 for allowing the water to flow into the housing 20 and to flow out through the passages 35 between the peripheral wall member 31 and the casing 33, and for preventing the water from flowing into or through the casing 33. A rotary member or follower 60 is slidably and rotatably received or engaged within the lower portion of the sliding member 50 and/or slidably and rotatably received or engaged within the bore 36 of the casing 33, and includes one or more protrusions 61 extended radially and outwardly from the lower portion thereof and spaced from each other for forming one or more slots 62 between the protrusions 61 and for slidably receiving or engaging with the ribs 37 and for guiding the follower 60 to slide or to move up and down along the casing 33 and for allowing the follower 60 to be rotated relative to the casing 33 when the ribs 37 are disengaged or offset from the slots 62 and the protrusions 61 of the follower 60.

The follower 60 includes one or more (such as two) teeth 63, such as inclined or ratchet teeth 63 extended upwardly from the upper portion of each protrusion 61 for forming a depression 64 between the teeth 63 and for engaging with the projections 51 and the ribs 37, and thus for determining the relative position between the sliding member 50 and the follower 60. The spring member 43 may force or bias the follower 60 toward the sliding member 50 for forcing the projections 51 and/or the inclined surfaces 53 of the sliding member 50 to engage with the teeth 63 and/or the depressions 64 of the follower 60, and the engagement of the inclined surfaces 53 of the sliding member 50 with the teeth 63 of the follower 60 may cause the follower 60 to rotate relative to the sliding member 50 when the slots 62 and the protrusions 61 of the follower 60 are disengaged or offset from the ribs 37 of the casing 33 or of the carrier 30.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, when the slots 62 of the follower 60 are aligned with the ribs 37 of the casing 33, or when the ribs 37 of the casing 33 are slidably engaged with the slots 62 of the follower 60, the follower 60 and the sliding member 50 may be forced or biased toward the upper or open end of the casing 33 and the housing 20, the valve member 55 may also be forced or biased to move out of the housing 20 for allowing the water to flow into the housing 20 and to flow out through the passages 35 between the peripheral wall member 31 and the casing 33. It is to be noted that the water is allowed to flow out through the passages 35 between the peripheral wall member 31 and the casing 33 only, and is prevented from flowing into or through the casing 33.

It is also to be noted that the follower 60 and the sliding member 50 and the spring member 43 are suitably received and confined within the casing 33, and the water may not flow into or through the casing 33 such that the follower 60 and the sliding member 50 and the spring member 43 will not be rusted and damaged by the water and the dirt or contaminant, and the sliding engagement of the projections 51 and/or the inclined surfaces 53 of the sliding member 50 with the teeth 63 and/or the depressions 64 of the follower 60 also will not be interfered by the water, such that the stop valve device 2 may be effectively operated without being interfered by the water.

As shown in FIG. 5, when it is required to close or block the chamber 25 of the housing 20, the valve member 55 may be depressed by the user in order to depress the spring member 43, and the follower 60 may also be forced to depress the spring member 43 until the slots 62 and the protrusions 61 of the follower 60 are disengaged or offset from the ribs 37 of the casing 33 of the carrier 30, at this moment, due to the sliding engagement of the projections 51 and/or the inclined surfaces 53 of the sliding member 50 with the teeth 63 of the follower 60, the follower 60 may be forced or caused to rotate relative to the sliding member 50 (FIG. 6), and the ribs 37 of the casing 33 of the carrier 30 may then be forced or caused to engage with the depressions 64 of the follower 60 (FIG. 7), and to maintain the follower 60 and the sliding member 50 and thus the valve member 55 at the lower position where the valve member 55 may close or block the chamber 25 of the housing 20 (FIGS. 2, 7).

When it is required to open the chamber 25 of the housing 20 again to drain or to discharge the water contained in the wash basin member 10, it is only required to depress the valve member 55 again (FIG. 8), the follower 60 and the sliding member 50 may also be forced to depress the spring member 43 again, and the slots 62 and the protrusions 61 of the follower 60 may also be forced to be disengaged or offset from the ribs 37 of the casing 33 of the carrier 30 (FIG. 9), and the slots 62 of the follower 60 may then be forced to be aligned with the ribs 37 of the casing 33 and to allow the ribs 37 of the casing 33 to be slidably engaged with the slots 62 of the follower 60 and to allow the valve member 55 to be forced or biased to move out of the housing 20 again (FIGS. 1, 4).

As best shown in FIG. 4, when the valve member 55 is forced or biased to move out of the housing 20, the water contained in the wash basin member 10 may flow into the housing 20 and may then flow out through the passages 35 between the peripheral wall member 31 and the casing 33, and may be prevented from flowing into or through the casing 33 such that the follower 60 and the sliding member 50 and the spring member 43 will not be rusted and damaged or interfered by the water and the dirt or contaminant, and the sliding engagement of the projections 51 and/or the inclined surfaces 53 of the sliding member 50 with the teeth 63 and/or the depressions 64 of the follower 60 also will not be interfered by the water, and such that the stop valve device 2 may be effectively operated without being interfered by the water.

Accordingly, the stop valve device is provided for attaching to the drain opening of the wash basin and includes an improved structure for allowing the water to swiftly flow out through the stop valve device and for preventing the stop valve device from being stopped or blocked by the dirt or contaminant.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A wash basin comprising: a basin member for receiving a water, and including a drain opening for allowing the water to flow out of said basin member, and a housing fitted into said drain opening of said basin member and having a chamber formed through said housing, a carrier including a peripheral wall member secured in said housing, and including a casing disposed in said peripheral wall member and spaced from said peripheral wall member and coupled to said peripheral wall member with at least one arm for forming a passage between said peripheral wall member and said casing, and for allowing the water to flow out through said passage between said peripheral wall member and said casing, and for preventing the water from flowing into said casing, said casing including a bore formed therein, and said carrier including at least one rib extended in said bore of said casing, and including a cap attached to bottom of said casing, a sliding member slidably received and engaged within said bore of said casing, and including two projections spaced from each other for forming a channel between said projections and for slidably receiving and engaging with said at least one rib and for guiding said sliding member to slide and to move up and down along said casing and for preventing said sliding member from rotating relative to said casing, a valve member including a shank extended downwardly therefrom for engaging with said sliding member and for attaching and securing said valve member to said sliding member and for allowing said valve member and said sliding member to be moved in concert with each other, said valve member being engageable into said chamber of said housing for selectively opening or blocking said chamber of said housing and said drain opening of said basin member, and including a sealing ring attached to an outer peripheral portion for engaging with said housing and for making a water tight seal between said housing and said valve member and for sealingly blocking said chamber of said housing, a follower slidably and rotatably received in said bore of said casing and including two protrusions extended radially and outwardly and spaced from each other for forming a slot between said protrusions and for slidably receiving and engaging with said at least one rib and for guiding said follower to slide and to move up and down along said casing and for allowing said follower to be rotated relative to said casing when said at least one rib is disengaged from said slot and said protrusions of said follower, said follower including two teeth extended from each protrusion for forming a depression between said teeth and for engaging with said at least one rib and for determining a relative position between said sliding member and said follower, and a spring member disposed in said casing and engaged with said follower for forcing and biasing said follower toward said sliding member and for forcing said projections of said sliding member to engage with said teeth and said depression of said follower, and for forcing said follower to rotate relative to said sliding member when said slot and said protrusions of said follower are disengaged from said at least one rib of said casing, and said follower and said sliding member being forced toward an open end of said casing and said housing by said spring member when said slot of said follower is aligned with said at least one rib of said casing and when said at least one rib of said casing is slidably engaged with said slot of said follower for allowing said valve member to be forced to move out of said housing and to open said chamber of said housing for allowing the water to flow into said housing and to flow out through said passage between said peripheral wall member and said casing, and said valve member being forced to block said chamber of said housing when said slot of said follower is disengaged from said at least one rib of said casing and when said at least one rib of said casing is engaged with said depression of said follower.
 2. The wash basin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing includes at least one latch extended outwardly therefrom, and said cap includes at least one latch opening formed therein for engaging with said at least one latch and for securing said cap to said casing.
 3. The wash basin as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cap includes at least one ear extended therefrom, and said at least one latch opening is formed in said at least one ear for receiving and engaging with said at least one latch.
 4. The wash basin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sliding member includes an inner thread formed in an upper portion thereof, and said shank is a threaded shank for threading and engaging with said inner thread of said sliding member and for attaching said valve member to said sliding member.
 5. The wash basin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes an inner thread formed therein, and said carrier includes an outer thread formed in an outer peripheral portion of said peripheral wall member for engaging with said inner thread of said housing and for attaching said carrier to said housing.
 6. The wash basin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing includes an inner peripheral shoulder formed therein for engaging with said projections of said sliding member and for limiting said sliding member to move relative to said casing.
 7. The wash basin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said follower is slidably and rotatably received and engaged within said sliding member. 